Will a hi-tech mask detect viruses in the air?
Covid but not only. A group of researchers has created an intelligent mask capable of detecting viruses in the air and alert the wearer through a notification on their smartphone. All the details
Researchers from Tongji University in Shanghai have created an "intelligent" mask capable of detecting the presence of viruses, such as the flu or Covid, in the air.
The bioelectronic personal protective device, by sending the captured information to our smartphone, will notify within 10 minutes, through an app.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
The researchers, whose work was published in the scientific journal Matter , explained that this innovative mask can track down common respiratory viruses found in the air, in the form of droplets or aerosols, when infected people talk, cough or sneeze – that is, the main way in which diseases such as Covid are transmitted and spread.
"Previous research has shown that wearing a mask can reduce the risk of spreading and contracting the disease," said Yin Fang, materials scientist at Tongji University in Shanghai and one of the authors of the study. We therefore wanted to create a mask capable of detecting the presence of viruses in the air and alerting the wearer ”.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The team of scientists, Matter reads, has designed a small sensor with aptamers, a type of synthetic molecule that can identify the unique proteins of pathogens as well as antibodies.
In particular, three types of aptamers were used, capable of recognizing the surface proteins of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid), H5N1 (the so-called avian flu ) and H1N1 (one of the viral strains of the virus influenza A).
A transistor (semiconductor device) on the mask sensor activates when aptamers bind to target proteins, sending an alert to the mask wearer's phone within 10 minutes.
THE TEST
The researchers tested the mask in a closed chamber by spraying a surface viral protein containing trace amounts of the virus.
The sensor has proved capable of intercepting even very low concentrations of viruses. In fact, just 0.3 microliters of liquid containing viral proteins was enough, which, as Yin explained, equates to a volume of about 70-560 times less than that of a sneeze – and also much less than the volume produced by coughing or speaking. .
According to the scientist, the mask would work very well in spaces with poor ventilation, such as elevators or closed rooms, where the risk of becoming infected is higher.
USEFUL FOR COVID BUT NOT ONLY
The fact that the hi-tech mask is able to detect even very low concentrations of viruses in the air makes it “a versatile detection platform for various respiratory infectious diseases”, the research reads.
"Currently, doctors rely heavily on their experience to diagnose and treat diseases," Yin said . "But with richer data gathered from wearable devices, diagnosing and treating diseases can become more accurate."
If new respiratory viruses emerge, Yin said, the device could easily be updated to detect them. Now, the researchers' goal is to reduce detection time and increase sensor sensitivity.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/una-mascherina-hi-tech-smaschera-i-virus-aria/ on Thu, 29 Sep 2022 08:58:33 +0000.